Valtteri Bottas was behind the wheel of🌺 a McLaren F1 car in a TPC test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalu🐽nya.

Bottas drove McLaren’s 2023 F1 challꦍenger as part of🎃 his Mercedes test and reserve driver duties.

"Nice to be back with Mercedes power today," said the grand prix winner who was formerly teammates with Lewis Hami🐟lto💛n.

With Bottas ✅set to be present at all 24 races this year, the Finn is likely to be available to other Mercedes-powered teams - should they want to use him.

Mercedes and McLaren have shared reserve drivers over the years, with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Mick Schumacher available to both parties.

Similarly, in 2021, Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne could have been called up by�🧸� either outfit.

Bottas, who hasn’t driven an F1 car since the end of last y⛎ear, got to drive the McLaren MCL60 at the Spanish GP circuit.

With McLaren in the fight for the constructors’ championship, having a driver of Bottas’ calibre available in the scenario that Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri couldn’t race is ne🦄cessary.

Bottas is also available to Williams.

If Bottas ✱returns 💮to the grid in 2025, he must serve a five-place grid penalty.

The 10-time gra🔥nd prix winner was penalised after colliding with S🌜ergio Perez at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Valtteri Bottas eyes 2026 F1 return

Bottas is still motivated𓆉 to return to the F🌳1 grid in 2026.

The 35-year-old’s best chance of making a return will likely beღ with Cadillac.

Cadillac will be♎come F1’s ⭕11th team in 2026, opening up two more seats.

The American team has already spoken about the need to choose drivers o🍎n merit and that at least one of those drivers will need to be experienced.

Bottas will face competit🐻ion🌌 from Sergio Perez and Zhou Guanyu to secure the seat.